Irvine Council doubles hate crime reward

Council unanimously approves $5,000 matching reward for information leading to arrest and conviction of vandals who defamed Irvine Synagogue

Mayor Don Wagner proposes matching reward to help find vandals who sprayed Semitic comments on the Beth Jacobs Congregation building on Oct. 31

By Irvine City News staff

The Irvine City Council, at Mayor Don Wagner's request, on Tuesday approved allocating a $5,000 matching reward in hopes of generating more leads that result in the arrest and conviction of vandals who on Oct. 31 sprayed anti-Semitic comments on the exterior walls of the Beth Jacob Congregation in Irvine. The funds will be drawn from the city's Community Impact Fund.The approval doubles the reward made available by the Anti-Defamation League for information that leads to an arrest for the hate crime."This community came together in a very big and heartening way right after not just Pittsburgh, but after we were visited with the anti-Semitism written on the walls of the Beth Jacob Congregation," Mayor Wagner said, "and in one voice said,' No, not here.'"He added, "The IPD is working closely with leadership to aggressively investigate this hate crime."Council member Fox called the hate crime a very personal attack. She thanked the mayor for his leadership on this issue and said, "We are so lucky to live in a community that values diversity...The future will only bring more unity and not division..."Councilmember Shea shared that during the press conference held after the hate crime, she invited leaders from various faiths to join the city council in January to pray for the city and community as the year opens."I look forward to having our faith-based groups coming together with the council and community to stand together against hate," Councilmember Shea said.“If you do something to the least of us, you do it to all of us, and we’re coming after you,” Mayor Wagner warned.